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06-07-2017, 01:36 AM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by pinholecam Quote
Sounds more like the Japanese want to protect the camera patents and know-how from the Chinese.
Once the Chinese (ie. China) gets hold of Nikon, I think it will be the end of Japanese camera makers.
Low cost cameras, patent issues that Japanese makers will face.

They did that to the Germans and probably don't want it to be repeated on them.
Good point

06-07-2017, 06:14 AM   #17
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There was an earlier article where this was already hinted: Nikon's bleak future?????????


There could be worse companies to help/take over Nikon than Fujifilm.
06-07-2017, 07:44 AM   #18
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QuoteOriginally posted by ffking Quote
Good point
Yes one I hadn't considered either... it is probably a lot of the concern in Japan right now... Since the Chinese have manufacturing understood rather well at this point.

Looking at how Yongnuo is now making lenses off of expired Canon patents, just imagine if they owned Nikon (as example). They'd instantly have designs for a thorough range of lens optics, motor designs, and whole cameras. Quality would probably go down further but so would prices, hurting Japanese camera makers as a result of people looking for a bargain. That's a threat to them I'm sure.
06-07-2017, 09:46 AM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by D1N0 Quote
There was an earlier article where this was already hinted: Nikon's bleak future?????????
Good find.

QuoteOriginally posted by sentaku:
Companies from Taiwan, South Korea and China reportedly are considering acquiring Nikon. Experts say if its financial situation further deteriorates, Nikon may seek an acquisition by a semiconductor or precision machinery giant in Asia, or take a path like Toshiba Corporation, which is fighting for survival by selling its profitable operations.
That was pretty straight to the point and would not be surprising at all.

06-13-2017, 05:50 AM   #20
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An interesting article written by Thom Hogan:

Nikon Isn’t Likely to be Bought by Fujifilm | DSLRBodies | Thom Hogan

The conclusion is more open than the rest of the text:
QuoteOriginally posted by Thom Hogan:
One thing does strike me, though: Nikon hasn't said a peep about the Sentaku articles that I know of, which seems strange. Meanwhile, Nikon's largest stockholder (Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi) is identified as the key player in these rumors. If true, that means there is pressure on Nikon to do something, and that might have started with Nikon shopping a piece of the company.

The disturbing aspect is this: this is very similar to how the Hoya acquisition of Pentax started. Rumors of sale. Active board member lobbying for it. Bank and METI involvement.
Nikon playing now the role of Pentax and Fujifilm that of Hoya?
06-13-2017, 07:02 AM   #21
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Something is cooking. No denial is a confirmation.

Fujifilm has quite a lot of overlap with the Nikon business portfolio (Barring document solutions).
Fuji infographic


Nikon | Corporate Information | Businesses

They could benefit from merging Nikon into Fujifilm.
06-13-2017, 08:00 AM - 2 Likes   #22
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The Japanese banks and govt should arrange to merge all their big camera brands (Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic) into one holding company, and just keep the brand names distinct. United Camera Company of Japan Inc.

Some might say that has always been (de-facto) how it works in Japan. Now they may need to formalise it.

06-13-2017, 12:12 PM   #23
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QuoteOriginally posted by Mistral75 Quote
Nikon playing now the role of Pentax and Fujifilm that of Hoya?
Unlikely, as Hoya did anything but saving Pentax.

Thom is wrong, as usual when it's about Pentax; the Hoya-Pentax deal was a surprise even to the Pentax' board.
06-13-2017, 05:10 PM - 1 Like   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kunzite Quote
Thom is wrong
Wouldn't be the first time, especially when he pontificates on economics and business, such as solar electricity in Africa and how to manufacture cameras.
06-13-2017, 05:43 PM   #25
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kunzite Quote
Unlikely, as Hoya did anything but saving Pentax.

Thom is wrong, as usual when it's about Pentax; the Hoya-Pentax deal was a surprise even to the Pentax' board.
Yeah, wasn't it a semi-hostile takeover?
06-13-2017, 06:12 PM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by pinholecam Quote
Sounds more like the Japanese want to protect the camera patents and know-how from the Chinese.
Once the Chinese (ie. China) gets hold of Nikon, I think it will be the end of Japanese camera makers.
Low cost cameras, patent issues that Japanese makers will face.

They did that to the Germans and probably don't want it to be repeated on them.
Nikon is part of what was formerly the Mitsubishi keiretsu. There are interlocking Boards and cross-share ownerships throughout the vast holdings and relationships of Mitsubishi Group and Mitsubishi Bank, which together represent 1.4% of Japan's GDP!

Nikon is a member of the Joint Directorate (Friday Group) through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, meaning that while Nikon has special influence and access to capital and investments, Nikon also special importance and responsibility to the entire pyramid of companies. The situation must truly be dire if part of Nikon is being shopped outside the Group given that in 2000 the Group bailed out Mitsubishi Motors internally.

OTOH, we know what Ricoh did with the disused Plant & Equipment from just the compact camera part of comparatively tiny Ricoh Imaging, and the effect that writedown had on Ricoh Corp.'s FY 03/2017 earnings. Just goes to show that capital requires cash flow to support it.

Mitsubishi Group

Last edited by monochrome; 06-13-2017 at 06:55 PM.
06-13-2017, 11:18 PM - 1 Like   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
Yeah, wasn't it a semi-hostile takeover?
Only semi-hostile?
I've only seen some fragments, but it was an ugly affair - pushed by SPARX (which unfortunately was a Pentax Co major shareholder) and Hoya (wanting Pentax' medical division and nothing else).
Just some of those fragments:
- the then-CEO responsible for arranging the deal with Hoya - Mr. Fumio Urano - was forced to step down after the public announcement (of the Pentax-Hoya merger, which was the initial idea). Pentax' board tried to resist this merger; but if they knew well beforehand - as implied by Thom's "rumors of sales" - why did they react so late? Why let the initial announcement happen?
- Pentax Corporation tried to find a "white knight" to resist the takeover (again, a major shareholder was involved); nobody helped. OTOH, Fujifilm would play the white knight role for Nikon.
- to kill any idea that it was anything than a hostile takeover: "In response, Pentax said it is against the reinstatement of the two officials on grounds that the tactics they used to push for the merger were heavy-handed and unfair."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/04/28/business/pentax-to-resist-execs.../#.WUDRemiGP8s

A more apt comparison would be Sony buying into Olympus.
06-14-2017, 12:36 AM   #28
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Assuming they can not find a local white knight, maybe Huawei or another large phone maker will buy them (at least a aprt of the business that seems to do better than the rest).
I could imagine they then shut down the Nikon APSC buisness which has been a fail so far recently.

Or as Kunzite hinted at even Sony could invest in Nikon same as they did with Olympus.

Though basically Nikon has nohting to offer to any other existing camera brand so it would make much more sense for a Taiwanese or Chinese phone maker to buy a part.

It will be interesting times to see if and how they survive and which parts will be shut down.
06-14-2017, 12:55 AM   #29
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Sorry if I wasn't clear - I mentioned Sony buying Olympus as a more apt comparison, because Sony "helped" Olympus by investing in a non-photographic business (without taking over or anything like that). This seems similar with that Fujifilm would supposedly do.
If I'm not mistaken, this is about Nikon's sensor lithography business, which is under pressure by ASML. Perhaps the goal is to prevent this business to fall into Chinese hands.
06-14-2017, 01:02 AM   #30
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QuoteOriginally posted by beholder3 Quote
Though basically Nikon has nohting to offer to any other existing camera brand
Not even Ricoh-Pentax? seems they have some quite neat AF tech
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